Is your home ready to sell? Are you ready to sell your home? Perhaps like most homeowners, the thought of selling your home probably brings a bag of mixed emotions. You may be excited about the prospect of moving on to a new chapter in your life, but you may also be anxious about what needs to be done to get your home ready for sale.
If you are thinking of selling or have started the process already, our professional property stylists have some advice and suggestions for adding value to your home before selling.
1. First Things First - Deciding to Sell Your Home Can Be Emotional
Selling a home can be an emotionally challenging experience.
The house you once bought, became your home filled with memories. Pictures and portraits grace the walls. The walls are covered in reminiscing. Typical wear and tear are lesions and scars covered by the odd piece of art, rug, portrait or dab of paint.
The once empty space is now filled with so much more –
Despite personal and emotional attachments, the decision has been made.
The Property for Sale sign will now signify that your home will soon become someone else’s.
You may feel a sense of loss like you’re giving up a part of your life. You may feel excitement at the prospect of starting a new chapter. Whatever your emotions, know that you’re not alone. Many people go through this process when they sell their homes.
On this journey, one thing to keep in mind is that selling your home is a business transaction. It’s important to stay objective and remember that when adding value to your home before selling, you’re trying to get the best possible sales price for yourself and make buyers feel confident about their investment.
2. Adding Value To Your Home Before Selling
Now that the decision has been reached to sell your much-loved home, you’ll need to improve your home’s appeal for the buyers’ market and thereby adding value to your home. This is done by what is commonly known as renovating, decluttering and styling your property for sale.
3. Renovating
- Expect some financial outlay in the preparation for the final presentation of your home. Broken things really do need to be fixed or replaced.
- For example, that bedroom window that has had a crack in it for months would need to be replaced. The front door may need sanding and a new coat of varnish or paint. Guttering may need a new coat of paint. Overgrown hedges need a trim. Leaking taps need to be repaired or replaced.
- Do not skimp on getting the exterior of your home and curb appeal right. This is very important. The outdoor area of your home is either a magnet or a deterrent to potential home buyers.
4. Decluttering
Cleaning and tidying up would be of paramount importance. Remove/store all personal items and memorabilia. The potential buyer does not have any connection with your family regardless of how cute and adorable the latest photo is of the recent addition to your family. He wants to buy your house to make it a home for him and his family.
5. Styling Your Property for Sale
As hard as is it may sound – remember it is a house/property you are selling; not your home or your lifestyle. When styling your property keep it impersonal; a well-styled home enables potential buyers to visualise themselves living in your house and enables them to see where their furniture can go.
The importance of photos of your well-styled house cannot be overstated. The use of images in marketing material such as brochures, advertisements and the internet can be very effective at capturing attention.
Renovating, decluttering and styling will help potential buyers see the value in your home and make an offer sooner. Learn step by step how to prepare, style, stage and renovate properties with our online Home Improvement Training courses.
